The Kyiv authorities have failed to officially establish the boundaries of the nature conservation area on Zhukiv Island for 25 years.
This is reported by Kyiv24
The Kyiv District Administrative Court has initiated proceedings against the Kyiv City Council and its executive bodies based on a lawsuit from the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Office. The reason for the legal action is the long-standing inaction regarding the determination of clear boundaries for the «Zhukiv Island» landscape reserve, as well as the lack of appropriate marking of the territory and its inclusion in the State Land Cadastre.
Unique Natural Area Under Threat
The «Zhukiv Island» reserve, located on one of the largest islands in Kyiv, was established in 1999 to protect valuable species of plants and animals listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. The landscape of this area encompasses various meadows, swamps, remnants of post-glacial dunes, lakes, and floodplains. All these ecosystems are of particular value and serve as spawning grounds for many fish species.
Legal Uncertainty and Risks of Illegal Development
The Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Office demands that the city authorities not only define and secure the boundaries of the reserve but also establish state informational and protective signs on the territory. Furthermore, it is necessary to include information about the protected area in the State Land Cadastre.
“Despite numerous statements from the city authorities about the need to secure the boundaries of the reserve, the relevant measures have not been taken for 25 years. Moreover, in the draft of the new general plan for the capital, its territory is not marked as protected at all, which creates risks of illegal disposal of these lands. Due to the lack of established boundaries, part of the reserve’s land has been illegally transferred to private ownership for development. Thanks to prosecutors’ lawsuits, most of these lands have been returned to municipal ownership,” said the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
The absence of legal confirmation of the boundaries of the «Zhukiv Island» reserve has repeatedly led to the illegal transfer of certain plots of land into private ownership for development. However, as reported by the prosecutor’s office, most of these territories have been successfully returned to municipal ownership through legal proceedings.
The resolution of the issue regarding the official determination of the reserve’s boundaries remains an urgent environmental and legal problem for Kyiv.